rapport
M76-2013
CEPA-action plan for wetlands
2011-2014
CEPA-action plan for wetlands 2011-2014
Utførende institusjon:
Miljødirektoratet, the Norwegian Environment Agency
Kontaktperson i Miljødirektoratet:
Maja Stade Aarønæs
M-nummer:
M76-2013
År:
2011
Sidetall:
21
Utgiver:
Miljødirektoratet
Prosjektet er finansiert av:
Miljødirektoratet
Forfatter(e):
Heidi Marie Gabler, Fylkesmannen i Troms
Brita Homleid Lohne, Statens naturoppsyn
Jon A. Markussen, Fylkesmannen i Oslo og Akershus
Jon Erling Skåtan, Statens naturoppsyn
Trude Starholm, Nordre Øyeren naturinformasjonssenter
Rune Aanderaa, Sabima
Tittel - norsk og engelsk:
CEPA-handlingsplan for våtmark 2011-2014
CEPA-action plan for wetlands 2011-2014
4 emneord:
Ramsarkonvensjonen, Ramsar, våtmark, CEPA
4 subject words:
The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, Ramsar, wetlands, CEPA
Forside:
Kim Abel (naturarkivet.no)
Layout:
Guri Jermstad AS
Summary:
The objective of this Communication, Education, Participation
and Awareness (CEPA) action plan for wetlands is to contribute to
strengthening awareness of the value of wetlands and the Ramsar
Convention in Norway. The concept is adapted from the CEPA
program of the Ramsar Convention on wetlands. The aim of the
action plan is to improve the conservation and wise use of wetlands
in Norway by increasing knowledge of the value of wetlands for
humans and biodiversity.
The CEPA group has defined ten targets comprising activities that
will contribute to the implementation of the action plan during a four
year period, from 2011 until 2014. Each target is substantiated and
includes a range of definite actions with corresponding target groups
and actors, estimated costs and timeline for implementation.
A central part of the action plan consists of a proposed authorization
system for wetland information centres in Norway. The intention is
for the information centres to contribute to increased understanding
of the value of Norwegian wetlands and to communicate knowledge
on the conservation and wise use of wetlands, including Ramsar sites.
The group has proposed a set of key requirements for the design and
management of the centres, and suggests a system for financing
that includes basic support and the possibility to apply for additional
funding for CEPA activities.
CEPA-action plan for wetlands 2011-2014 | M76-2013
Foreword
In 2011 the Ministry of the Environment gave the Norwegian Environment Agency the task of: “Completing an action plan for
communication, education, awareness and information on wetlands/the Ramsar Convention (CEPA Action Plan)”.
In 2009 the Norwegian Environment Agency nominated a broad-based work group to prepare the basis for a CEPA
(Communication, Education, Participation and Awareness) action plan.
The group’s mandate changed during the process, but the following elements are to be assessed by the group:
• The group shall prepare proposals for criteria for authorising a wetland centre in Norway (completed 2010).
• The group shall prepare a proposal for the Norwegian CEPA action plan in accordance with the Ramsar Convention’s
recommendations for initiatives and activities. The Norwegian Environment Agency uses the action plan as a starting point for
its recommendations to the Ministry of the Environment.
• The group shall present an action plan for how increased awareness can be created around the value of wetlands nationally,
regionally and locally.
• The group shall prepare an overview of possible activities including relevant target groups and executors and how this can be
implemented in Norway.
• It is natural that the group deals with other ongoing initiatives such as the value-creating programmes ”Natural Heritage as a
Value Creator” and ”The Sustainable Backpack program” in its work.
The CEPA group consisted of:
• Heidi Marie Gabler, County Governor in Troms
• Brita Homleid Lohne, the Norwegian Nature Inspectorate
• Jon A. Markussen, County Governor in Oslo and Akershus
• Jon Erling Skåtan, the Norwegian Nature Inspectorate
• Trude Starholm, Nordre Øyeren nature information centre
• Rune Aanderaa, Sabima
The secretariat for the group comprised: Bjørn Arne Næss, Magnus Voje and Maja Stade Aarønæs, all of the Norwegian
Environment Agency. In addition Janne Teigen Braseth and Jan-Petter Huberth-Hansen from the Norwegian Environment Agency
were observers in the group.
The review is a product of the group’s work. The Norwegian Environment Agency has not made its own assessments or
considerations connected to the proposals that the group has come up with.
The review; ”CEPA action plan for wetlands” must be seen in connection with another task in the Norwegian Environment Agency’s
award of contract letter from the Ministry of the Environment in 2011: “Prepare a draft for a joint strategy and action plan for
a national park centre, nature information centre, world heritage centre, administration hub and nature guidance, cf. Miljø 365”.
The proposals in the review will be considered to be used as a basis for the Norwegian Environment Agency’s suggestions for the
budget for the coming year.
The Norwegian Environment Agency thanks the members of the CEPA group for a job well done!
Trondheim, August 2011
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CEPA-action plan for wetlands 2011-2014 | M76-2013
Nature has the ability to fascinate children and adults alike. A girl has caught two small salamanders (Triturus vulgaris) which are listed as close to
being endangered on the Red List from 2010. Photo: Bård Bredesen (naturarkivet.no)
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Contents
Summary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Part 1 Introduction.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1.1 Background.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1.2 Status for wetlands. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1.3 Connections to other initiatives.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Part 2 Target groups and actors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
2.1 Selected target groups. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
2.2 Key players. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Part 3 Aims. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Aim 1: Authorise a number of well-functioning wetland centres as central arenas for
communicating knowledge on wetlands in Norway. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Aim 2: Design an information package on wetlands and the Ramsar Convention that can be used by
various bodies to communicate the value of wetlands.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Aim 3: Nominate national CEPA contacts from the Ramsar Authority and from a voluntary
organisation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Aim 4: Mark World Wetlands Days 2 February and 2 September.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Aim 5: Strengthen the cooperation with the Sustainable Backpack program and the Norwegian Centre ...
for Science Education on the development of learning resources with the topic wetlands. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Aim 6: Strengthen knowledge and understanding of the value of wetlands with those involved
in water management.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Aim 7: Increase knowledge on wetlands in environment protection and area management
at national level, county level and municipal level. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Aim 8: Cooperate with relevant stakeholders within agricultural management with the aim
of increasing an understanding of the value of sustainable use of wetlands.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Aim 9: Ensure that all new administration plans for Norwegian Ramsar areas
(and other protected wetlands) include the communication perspective. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Aim 10: Map good examples of communication connected to wetlands in other countries
and recommend initiatives based on these. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Part 4 Authorisation of wetland centres.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
4.1 Background.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
4.2Aims. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
4.2.1Aim. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
4.2.2 Target groups. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
4.3 Authorisation terms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
4.3.1 Application and reporting.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
4.4 Authorisation requirements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
4.4.1 Requirements for operation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
4.4.2 Requirements for buildings/premises. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
4.5 General guidelines for support for information initiatives.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
4.5.1 A wetland centre shall offer nature experiences. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
4.5.2 A wetland centre shall communicate knowledge.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
4.5.3 A wetland centre shall be available to many.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Part 5 Implementation and revising.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Part 6 Relevant CEPA literature. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
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Summary
• Aim 5: Strengthen the cooperation with the Sustainable
Backpack program and the Norwegian Centre for Science
­Education on the development of learning resources with
the topic of wetlands
Wetlands comprise a number of different types of nature
that make up the border area between land and water. These
areas are of great importance for taking care of biodiversity,
for human society, financial development and life quality.
Knowledge of the importance of wetlands and sustainable
use of wetlands is however not very widespread in the
population and globally wetlands are diminishing quicker than
any other type of nature.
• Aim 6: Strengthen knowledge and understanding of the
value of wetlands by those involved in water management
• Aim 7: Increase knowledge of wetlands in environment
protection and area management at national level, county
level and municipal level
The wetlands convention, called the Ramsar Convention,
is an international agreement for the preservation and
sustainable use of wetlands. The Ramsar Convention uses the
CEPA concept in its communications work, which stands for
Communication, Education, Participation and Awareness. A
group nominated by the Norwegian Environment Agency has
prepared an action plan for how the communication of the
value of wetlands can be strengthened in Norway, and has
used the CEPA approach in its work.
• Aim 8: Cooperate with relevant stakeholders within
­agricultural management with the aim of increasing
­understanding of the value of sustainable use of wetlands
• Aim 9: Ensure that all new administration plans for
­Norwegian Ramsar areas (and other protected wetlands)
include the communication perspective
• Aim 10: Map good examples of communication connected
to wetlands in other countries and recommend initiatives
based on these
The vision for the CEPA action plan is to contribute to
better care of wetlands in Norway by increasing knowledge
of wetlands’ value for people and biodiversity. The CEPA
group has seen it expedient to concentrate the focus on
a few selected target groups and actors who are central
for reaching them. The target groups are defined by their
potential important role in contributing to the good or bad
management of wetlands. The actors who are defined as
central will have a role as executor, or will in another way
be directly involved in the implementation of the action
plan and communication with the selected target groups.
The group has also named selected existing initiatives that
would be relevant to cooperate with in connection with the
implementation of the action plan.
A central part of the action plan comprises a proposal for
an authorisation scheme for wetland centres in Norway.
In recent years a number of initiatives have appeared that
use the name wetland centre or similar, and a need has
been expressed to regulate and quality assure the centres’
activities to a greater degree. The CEPA group proposes a set
of requirements and guidelines for the establishment of an
authorised wetland centre. The aim is that the centres shall
contribute to creating an understanding of the value of the
Norwegian wetland heritage and communicate knowledge
of the use and protection of wetland areas, including Ramsar
areas. The group has proposed minimum requirements for
operation and for buildings/premises, and prepares a financial
scheme that covers basic support, and the option to apply
for extra resources for information initiatives.
The CEPA group has defined ten aims that comprise activities
that shall contribute to the implementation of the action
plan. Each aim is justified and includes a selection of concrete
initiatives with the accompanying target groups and actors,
and a cost estimate and schedule for implementation. The ten
aims are as follows:
• Aim 1: Authorise a number of well-functioning wetland
centres as central arenas for communicating knowledge of
wetlands in Norway
• Aim 2: Design an information package on wetlands and
the Ramsar Convention that can be used by various bodies
to communicate the value of wetlands
• Aim 3: Nominate national CEPA contacts from the Ramsar
Authority and from a voluntary organisation
• Aim 4: Mark World Wetlands Days 2 February and
2 September
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Part 1 Introduction
It is necessary to understand the values of the world’s
wetlands both in an environmental, social and economic
connection. The importance of wetlands is currently not
sufficiently recognised, and this means that this type of
nature is among the world’s most threatened ecosystems
and is diminishing quicker than any other type of nature.
Wetlands contribute to many ecosystem services of great
importance to human society, economy and life quality. In
order that the wetlands continue to provide us with these
services, sensible management is required, without over
consumption or overload.
1.1 Background
The wetlands convention, called the Ramsar Convention,
is a global agreement that was established in the town of
Ramsar in Iran on 2 February 1971. In 1974 Norway was
one of the first countries to ratify the Convention. The aim
of the Convention is to reduce the loss of wetlands and
slow down the increasing pressure on wetland areas through
local, regional and national initiatives, as well as international
cooperation. The Convention originally aimed to protect
wetlands as living areas for waterbirds in particular. The aims
have gradually been extended to also include protecting
wetlands as living areas for flora and fauna, and not least
as living areas that ensure the basis of existence for many
people. The Convention shall communicate knowledge of the
wetlands’ ecological importance for ensuring biodiversity,
and their importance for research, recreation and society
development. 160 countries have signed the Convention and
each country is obligated to establish so-called Ramsar Sites,
which are to be included in the Convention’s List of Wetlands
of International Importance.
Wetlands in Norway
In Norway several of the most threatened types of nature are
connected to wetlands, and a large number of species on the
Norwegian Red List live in wetland areas. Among the most
important threats to Norwegian wetlands are cultivation,
dismantling, draining, forest planting, pollution, acidification,
filling in, water level regulation influences, litter and the
spread of foreign species.
Protection of wetlands has been a prioritised area in
Norwegian management for a long time. More than 600 of
Norway’s approx. 2 700 protected areas were established
with the aim of protecting different types of wetland.
However evaluation of this protection in Norway shows that
several types of wetland are missing or are underrepresented
in the national network of protected areas. Norway has 51
areas on the List of Wetlands of International Importance
(June 2011), and a further 12 new areas are proposed.
The Norwegian Environment Agency is the Norwegian
management authority for the Ramsar Convention.
CEPA (Communication, Education, Participation and
Awareness) for wetlands is a tool developed by the
Ramsar Convention in order to contribute to increasing
the understanding of the value of wetlands and thereby
motivating preservation and sustainable use of wetland areas.
The Convention’s 160 countries have been encouraged to
draw up a plan for implementing CEPA work for wetlands.
The overall vision for the CEPA action plan is to contribute
to better protection of wetlands in Norway by increasing
knowledge of wetland values for people and biodiversity.
The main aim of the action plan is to create increased
understanding of sustainable use of wetlands. It particularly
focussed on groups that, by their actions, are deemed to
have great influence on the preservation of wetlands. The
action plan shall contribute to strengthening communication
on the value of wetlands, and through its implementation,
allow for coordination of the CEPA work in Norway.
1.3 Connections to other
relevant initiatives
1.2 Status for wetlands
The Sustainable Backpack program
The Sustainable Backpack program is a national initiative to
contribute to developing curiosity and knowledge of nature,
consciousness of sustainable development and increased
environmental engagement in all pupils and teachers in basic
education. The website natursekken.no is a resource bank
for teachers and functions as a guide to learning resources,
courses, organisations, institutions and resource persons
who can contribute within various themes connected to the
Sustainable Backpack program. The initiative is a cooperation
between the Ministry of Education and Research and the
Ministry of the Environment, and the project manager
is connected to the Norwegian Directorate of Education
and Training and the Norwegian Environment Agency. The
Norwegian Centre for Science Education has a secretariat
function and is responsible for the daily operation.
With the implementation of the CEPA (Communication,
Education, Participation and Awareness) action plan for
wetlands, it will be relevant to cooperate with several
initiatives that already exist. A selection of relevant
initiatives, and their topicality for CEPA work on wetlands are
described in more detail below:
Wetlands have been called ”biological super systems” due
to their high production ability, which forms the basis for a
very high level of biodiversity. Wetlands comprise a number
of various types of nature that make up the border area
between land and water. Nationally and internationally,
the Ramsar Convention’s definition of wetlands is often
used when categorizing different types of wetlands. The
Convention includes wetlands from mountains to the sea –
including inland: swamps, lakes, peat moors, forest covered
wetlands, caves and rivers; -on the coast and in areas near
the coast: coral reefs, mangrove forests, lagoons (down to 6
metres deep at low tide), as well as human-created wetlands;
reservoirs, dams, fish dams, rice fields etc.
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Nature guidance started as a separate project in the
Norwegian Nature Inspectorate in 2007 and it is in a
growth phase. There are currently eight people who are
employed to work as nature guides, but all the employees
in the Norwegian Nature Inspectorate are involved in nature
guidance and are offered training in this. It is desirable
to further develop the number of nature guides as well
as establish a separate post-education training in nature
guidance in cooperation with a higher education institution.
Relevance for CEPA in wetlands
The Sustainable Backpack program can be a channel for
communicating knowledge of wetlands to teachers and
pupils, and for contributing to putting wetlands on the
agenda in more schools. The website is an important
information source for teachers, but it is also an important
arena for making the offer more visible in schools.
The environment journalists
The environment journalists is an interdisciplinary teaching
scheme in secondary schools and the 1st year of sixth form.
The aim of the project is to increase pupils’ knowledge of
environmental challenges. The pupils use journalistic methods
to investigate and write about the environmental conditions
in their municipality. The project is developed by State of
the Environment Norway in cooperation with Newspapers
in Schools and the Sustainable Backpack program and is
managed by the Climate and Pollution Agency.
Relevance for CEPA in wetlands
The Norwegian Nature Inspectorate works with the general
public in order to create conscious attitudes to nature and
environment protection in the population. Wetlands are areas
that are used in this work and that have the potential to
be used more widely in line with the increasing initiative on
nature guidance in the Norwegian Nature Inspectorate.
Natural heritage as a value creator and the Value Creation
Programme
Natural heritage as a value creator is a value creation
programme of the Ministry of the Environment in
cooperation with the Ministry of Local Government and
Regional Development, with the aim of increasing the value
of protected areas and other nature areas with special
qualities. The programme shall allow such areas to become
an important resource for social, cultural, environmental
and economic development and it shall provide the basis for
employment and value creation based on natural heritage,
at the same time as the areas are managed so that the
biodiversity is kept.
Relevance for CEPA in wetlands
The Norwegian Environment Agency has an option to bring
problems with a wetland theme into play, which pupils can
choose as a case study for their work.
Nature guidance in the Norwegian Nature Inspectorate
The Norwegian Nature Inspectorate defines nature
guidance as the communication of knowledge of nature
and its connections, with the view to strengthening insight,
respect, engagement and care for the natural and cultural
environment. The main target groups for the nature guidance
project in the Norwegian Nature Inspectorate are children,
youth and teachers in schools, visitors to the national
park centres and other nature information centres, teams,
organisations and business life.
The value creation programme (2005-2010) was a
cooperation on cultural monuments between the Ministry of
The dipper is Norway’s national bird and it lives by running water. Photo: Kim Abel (naturarkivet.no)
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CEPA-action plan for wetlands 2011-2014 | M76-2013
bad management of wetlands. The action plan shall seek
to increase knowledge and understanding of the value of
wetlands in these defined target groups and through this
contribute to a better condition for Norwegian wetlands.
the Environment and the Directorate for Cultural Heritage. As
part of the value creation programme mandate, knowledge
should be spread on how sustainable use of cultural
monuments and cultural environments can promote business
development and strengthen local society and regions.
Children and young people
Children and young people make up the next generation who
will take care of the environment, and can be influenced at
an early age to understand the importance of wetlands and
sustainable use of wetland areas. A foundation can be laid
for future good wetland ambassadors through fascination
and basic information. Much of the work aimed at children
and young people takes place in the local environment, in
the form of interactive communication processes, with the
experience being an important part of the learning. It is
important to reach the local population living near wetland
areas with information on the values of nature in their
surroundings, and with initiatives which are aimed at children
and young people that can also indirectly reach people from
a broad selection of other target groups. Children can also
transfer their knowledge to those nearest to them (e.g.
parents and grandparents).
Relevance for CEPA in wetlands
Natural heritage as a value creator can be a relevant
cooperation partner in communication projects within the
theme of wetlands, and it has resources that can be sought
for concrete projects. The value creation programme’s first
cycle is completed, but it could be involved for future periods.
The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB)
TEEB is a UN study that assesses the global costs of
damaging ecosystems and the loss of biodiversity. The TEEB
study is seeking to communicate the value of nature by using
economic thought processes and economic means and has
assessed methods, studies and management tools from all
over the world.
Several of the examples of the TEEB reports, where
economic valuation of nature has been used in decision
processes and management, deal with wetlands. Norway
shall follow up the study nationally with a public review that
will map the economic value of the services nature gives us.
Environmental protection management
An important target group for CEPA work are those involved
in environmental protection management, from government
level via the country governor and the counties to the
municipal level. These officials protect the environment
and values of nature at different levels in the Norwegian
civil service. Through their professional roles, employees in
environmental protection have an important influence on
area use and area planning. They are also important actors
in touch with other professional groups who have a role in
area use within public administration or private entities. By
defining environmental protection officials as a central target
group for raising knowledge and increasing understanding,
the knowledge can be widely disseminated. The aim is that
this will lead to good initiatives for maintaining wetlands, and
the prevention of wetlands being damaged or lost due to a
lack of knowledge.
Relevance for CEPA in wetlands
The approach that TEEB uses can be used for communicating
the value of wetlands to different target groups. This
approach will be important in the communication of the
values of nature in the future through the public review.
Furthermore work can be done towards the public committee
in order to ensure that wetlands get a central place in their
work.
Part 2 Target groups
and actors
Area managers
All sectors that are involved in area management on
Norwegian land and in the coastal zone will affect wetlands
directly or indirectly through their decisions and actions.
Wetlands are often complex ecological systems, where
activities separated from the area by time and space can
have wide-reaching consequences for the condition of
the wetlands. Sectors with a potentially large influence on
wetlands include water and sewage, agriculture, mining,
forestry, fishing, tourism, waste and energy production.
Communication of the value of wetlands to central sectors
can lead to increased understanding and have effects in the
form of actions that protect wetlands.
2.1 Selected target groups
Knowledge of the importance of wetlands and sustainable
use of wetlands is less widespread in the population.
CEPA work within wetlands is therefore relevant for the
general population, and a number of target groups can
advantageously be included in the work. Communication
measures that are aimed at a broader defined target group,
or many different target groups, will have a role in a major
communication initiative. The CEPA group has however
considered
It’s appropriate to concentrate work on some selected
target groups, which are considered to be particularly central
to the maintenance and sustainable use of wetlands. The
target groups are defined from their potentially important
role to directly, or indirectly contribute to the good or
Landowners
Landowners have a potentially important role as their
actions can have a direct effect on wetland areas. Increasing
landowners’ knowledge of the value of wetlands, and the
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management plans for Ramsar Sites and other protected
areas, in which the communication aspect ought to be
included in the action plan.
possibilities there are to protect or restore them, can prevent
wetlands from being damaged and can give incentives
for the restoration of damaged wetland areas. There
would also be access to financing mechanisms through a
national environment programme in agriculture, a regional
environment programme, special environment initiatives
in agriculture (SMIL) and other relevant grant schemes for
agriculture.
The Norwegian Centre for Science Education
The Norwegian Centre for Science Education was established
in spring 2003 at the University of Oslo, following an
initiative from the Ministry of Education and Research.
The centre will contribute to strengthening the teaching
of science in basic education and nurseries. The centre will
work with communication, mainly internet-based, to support
schools and school owners with knowledge-based materials
on good practice. Furthermore, the centre will develop and
implement quality initiatives connected to didactic activity
in cooperation with school owners and the university and
university college sector/teacher education. The centre shall
also provide national education authorities with advice and
services in the work of realising the national education policy
within its area of responsibility.
Decision makers
Decision makers at different levels, from municipality to
government level, are central to protecting wetlands. It
is necessary to provide decision makers with relevant
information and research results, to give them an
understanding of the importance of wetland areas and make
decisions about these based on knowledge. When a decision
is to be made where there can be conflict between short
term economic gain and long term protection of nature, it is
important that the values that nature provides us with are
known and used as a basis for the decision.
Voluntary organisations
Voluntary organisations have an important role within
environmental protection work in Norway. Because of
their independent position and their work form, voluntary
organisations can play a different role, use other methods and
other networks to promote the communication of wetland
values than those used by the environmental protection
management.
Other target groups
A number of target groups that are not defined as particularly
central are, however, relevant to involve in individual
initiatives, and can be relevant for future definitions of
selected target groups. This could be trade and investors as
potential supporters, or with connections to area planning
and area use. Furthermore, the media has an important task
in bringing cases that are thought relevant into the spotlight.
News, placards and articles in printed or electronic format
are important tools to reach more people. If the media’s
understanding of the importance of wetlands is increased,
it can have an effect on the extent and quality of the
presentation. The university and university college sector are
important trendsetters for competence on wetlands in future
professionals and landowners, and these institutions can be
motivated to strengthen their teaching in the field.
Other actors
Other actors that can have an important role in wetland
communication include persons and organisations that
work with the public in communicating the values of
nature, including wetlands. These actors can be appropriate
cooperation partners for individual initiatives and can be
relevant for future definitions of central actors. The actors
include, amongst others:
2.2 Central actors
• Norwegian Ornithological Society in its communication
of the importance of protecting bird species and their
habitats
• Norwegian Society for the Conservation of Nature and its
members for communication of the value of nature and
responsible use of nature
• Persons employed in the Norwegian Nature Inspectorate
in their work with nature guidance
• Researchers in their communication of research
• Norwegian Hunting and Fishing Society and their local
groups in their communication of the value of harvesting
fish and game
• University and university college sector with this topic
portfolio and teaching within the sciences
• Norwegian Scouting Association and their local groups in
the communication of outdoor life and love of nature to
children and young people
• The Association of Intermunicipal Outdoor ­Recreation
Boards in its work with outdoor areas and activity
­initiatives with schools
A number of players are active in communicating the values
of nature to the population. The actors defined below
will be either implementers or will be directly involved in
another way in the implementation of the action plan and
communication with the selected target groups.
The wetland centres
An important actor for CEPA work in Norway is the wetland
centre. The group recognises this and has prepared a proposal
for authorisation terms for wetland centres. A more detailed
report on the wetland centre’s role is in part 4.
Environmental protection management
Environmental protection management is an important actor
due to its role as a party in a number of cases that deal
with land disposal at a municipal, county and government
level. It has a particular responsibility to defend the nature
and environment perspective at the respective levels in
management. The county governor’s task is to prepare
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• The Norwegian Trekking Association in its work with
outdoor areas and its approach to creating work with the
population
• Outdoor life joint organisation (FRIFO), 4H, Norwegian
Botanical Society and the museums can also be possible
cooperation partners for the communication the value of
wetlands.
Implementation:
• Establish a permanent financing scheme for development,
further development and operation. This must be in place
before the application round for authorisation is carried
out: 2012
• Carry out an application round and authorise a selection of
wetland centres: 2012
• Annual gatherings of the wetland centres: 2012-2014.
Part 3 Aims
Aim 2: Design an information package on
wetlands and the Ramsar Convention that
can be used by various bodies in the work of
communicating the value of wetlands
The CEPA group has defined 10 aims that comprise actions
that shall contribute to the implementation of the CEPA
action plan in Norway. Each aim is justified and includes
a selection of concrete initiatives, defined target groups
and actors as well as cost estimates and a schedule for
implementation.
Reason: Knowledge of the importance of wetlands and the
Ramsar Convention is currently low in the population. In order
to achieve target orientated and efficient communication, it
is important that actors that work with communicating the
value of wetlands have access to high quality information
material. The information package ought to include material
of varied character that is aimed at different target groups.
At first the group believes the priority ought to be to invest
in material that can be used by several actors, independent of
geographical placement. Social media will be the arena that
more people relate to and can be useful in the information
work.
Aim 1: Authorise a number of well functioning
wetland centres as central areas for communi­
cating knowledge of wetlands in Norway
Reason: The wetland centre shall be a spearhead for
communicating the value of wetlands to target groups,
especially children and young people and local populations.
See the authorisation scheme, part 4 in the report, for
further information.
Initiatives:
• Prepare a brochure that explains what wetlands/the
­Ramsar Convention are, and briefly list all of ­Norway’s
Ramsar areas (inspiration can be got from similar
­brochures from Japan and the brochure ”Protection of
seabirds in inner Oslo fjord”)
• Prepare an animation film on wetlands in accordance with
the nature index model
• Investigate a graphical profile programme for the wetland
centres, inspired by the profile for Norwegian protection
areas and the national park centres. Such a profile will then
include, for example, a logo and general profile, exhibition
material, brochure material and presentation template
• Prepare an interactive map with information from
­Norwegian Ramsar areas that can be used by the wetland
centres
• Prepare transportable exhibition modules on wetlands
(rollups)
• Prepare learning resources in cooperation with relevant
parties for communicating the value of wetlands to
­children and young people
• Increase the use of already existing information platforms
such as, amongst others, dirnat.no, miljøstatus.no
• Use social media such as Facebook in order to reach new
target groups.
Initiatives:
• Prepare an authorisation scheme for wetland centres
• Authorise a number of wetland centres
• Establish a permanent financing scheme that ensures
framework terms for development, further development
and operation, cf. the National Park Centres
• Pursue a network for wetland centres by, amongst
other things, annual gatherings for training, exchanging
­experiences and information
• Establish a ”closed” network forum/discussion forum in
order to ensure communication between the wetland
centres in Norway.
Target groups: The target groups for the centres will depend
on the centre’s location and organisation. Parts of the centre’s
activities ought to be aimed especially at children and young
people and the local population. Some can also have tourists
as an important target group. See part 4.
Central actors: Central environment authorities for
developing and running the authorisation scheme and holding
annual gatherings. The wetland centres as the involved and
executive party.
Cost estimate: 40 mill NOK per annum in the establishment
phase, 10 mill NOK per annum for operation after the
establishment phase.
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Catching crabs along the coast is an exciting activity for small children on hot summer days. Photo: Kim Abel (naturarkivet.no)
Aim 3: Nominate national CEPA-contacts from
the Ramsar Authority and from a voluntary
organisation
Target groups: The information package ought, as a whole,
to be aimed at reaching a wide selection of target groups,
and the different parts of the information package should be
adapted to each target group.
Reason: CEPA work is in high focus at the international
Ramsar Convention. All the countries involved are expected
to nominate two dedicated CEPA contacts who can lead
the development and implementation of the work. The
contact persons will be in charge of coordinating and
implementing the CEPA work nationally and for marking
World Wetlands Day, both the international version on 2
February and the Nordic-Baltic version on 2 September. The
group believes this is a priority initiative in order to ensure
the implementation of the CEPA work in general and the
implementation of the action plan in particular.
Central actors: The work ought to be lead by the CEPA
contacts. Other involved actors are the environment
protection authorities, the wetland centres as well as
organisations and persons who are involved in CEPA work
within wetlands.
Cost estimate:
• Total 675,000 NOK for the start-up and 200 000 NOK in
annual costs divided between:
- Brochure on wetlands: 100,000 NOK
- Animation/film on wetlands: 200,000 NOK
- Graphical profile for wetland centres: 200,000 NOK in
start-up costs and 200 000 NOK for annual operation
- Interactive map: 25,000 NOK
- Exhibition modules: 50,000 NOK
- Learning resources: 100,000 NOK
The Nordic-Baltic wetlands initiative, which is a regional
initiative under the Ramsar Convention, will arrange two
workshops for persons who are responsible for CEPA ­followup at a national level. These will be an actual arena for raising
competence and exchanging experience that can contribute
to the work of implementing the action plan in Norway.
Implementation: 2011-2013.
Initiatives:
• Nominate national CEPA contacts
• Ensure that the nominated persons have sufficient
­resources to implement the initiative
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• Ensure capacity of authority employee and compensation
for the CEPA contact in a voluntary organisation for the
work effort
Implementation:
• Annual marking of World Wetlands Day 2 February and 2
September: 2011-2014.
Target groups: Other actors involved in CEPA for wetlands.
Aim 5: Strengthen the cooperation with the
Sustainable Backpack program and the Norwegian
Centre for Science Education on the development
of learning resources with the topic wetlands
Central actors: National environment protection authorities
for adapting the CEPA contacts’ work. Nominated CEPA
contacts for implementation.
Reason: An important channel to reach children and young
people in schools. So that the topics shall be reinforced,
or increased focus is achieved in schools, they ought to
be anchored in the teaching plan. The Norwegian Centre
for Science Education constitutes an already established
commitment to science in schools. The Sustainable Backpack
program is an established commitment to science and
education for sustainable development. Cooperation with
these is seen as appropriate in order to ensure coordinated
and channelled commitment towards schools.
Estimated cost: Resources to compensate the NGO contact:
250 000 NOK per annum. Resources for and implementation
of CEPA projects and initiatives comes from other sources.
Implementation:
• Nomination of national CEPA contacts from the Ramsar
authority and from a voluntary organisation: 2011/2012
• Participation in CEPA courses arranged under the NordicBaltic wetlands initiative spring 2012
Aim 4: Marking World Wetlands Day 2 February
and 2 September
Initiatives:
• Further develop dialogue and cooperation with the
­Sustainable Backpack program and the Norwegian Centre
for Science ­Education
• Develop learning resources with the wetlands topic in
different classes in schools in cooperation with relevant
actors
• Establish contact with school owners (municipality
and county) and inform them of teaching resources at
­headteacher meetings at each school
• General teaching plans with local problems can be
­developed for different ages in cooperation with schools.
At the same time, a plan ought to be prepared for before
and after work in cooperation with the schools.
Reason: World Wetlands Day is marked internationally on
2 February, the date of the establishment of the Ramsar
Convention in 1971. The Nordic-Baltic countries have chosen
a regional version on 2 September, when the wetlands in
the region are more accessible to the public. World Wetlands
Day has been used as an arena to bring attention to wetlands
and the Ramsar Convention with placards and events. In
2011, World Wetlands Day was marked with press coverage
nationally and regionally, as well as some local events.
Initiatives:
• Mark the international version of World Wetlands Day on
2 February, with a focus on the Ramsar Convention by,
amongst other things, internet coverage
• Mark the regional version of World Wetlands Day on 2
September with focus on experiences in wetlands at a
­local level
• To the degree that the regional marking of World
­Wetlands Day coincides with the outdoor life week,
cooperation ought to be sought with relevant outdoor
organisations on holding events.
Target groups: Children and young people in basic education.
Central actors: The environmental protection at government
level ought to take the initiative to establish cooperation with
the Sustainable Backpack program and the Norwegian Centre
for Science Education.
Cost estimate: Mainly in the form of work effort at the
involved parties.
Implementation: 2012-2014.
Target groups: The marking ought to try to reach a wide
number of target groups. These must be defined for each
initiative and event.
Aim 6: Strengthen knowledge and understanding
of the value of wetlands for actors within water
management
Central actors: CEPA contacts coordinate the marking.
Voluntary organisations, wetland centres, county governors
and others are involved in the implementation of local
marking and events.
Reason: In order to protect wetlands and improve the
condition of wetlands that are currently degraded, there
must be an understanding of the importance of wetlands
across sectors. Some sectors are particularly central to their
potential major influence on the condition of wetlands by
their activities, and with major possibilities for synergy for
sustainable use. Water management depends on services
contributed by wetlands, including supplying the population
Cost estimate: Cost of 200 000 NOK for the
implementation of events from 2012.
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with clean water, contributing to reducing the effect of heavy
precipitation and for energy production.
Central actors: Government environment protection
authorities and other relevant resource persons.
Initiatives:
• Prepare information material especially adapted to this
target group
• Strengthen cooperation and contribute to a greater
degree to programme design and the implementation of
events for actors within water management, ­including
a national water environment conference and events
­managed by the water association
• Strengthen cooperation between persons who work with
wetlands and persons who work with the water directive
to promote synergy.
Cost estimate: Work effort of the involved persons.
Implementation: 2011-2014.
Aim 7: Increase knowledge of wetlands in
environment protection and area management at
national level, county level and municipal level
Reason: The environmental protection and land management
have a central role in ensuring the protection and sustainable
use of wetlands in and outside protected areas. It is
important that persons who work with land use in public
management have sufficient knowledge to carry out their
meaningful role. The group believes therefore that it is
appropriate to invest in strengthening their knowledge basis
on wetlands.
Target groups: Sectors and actors who work with water,
including the Water and Sewage Department and others
with responsibility for water and sewage at a municipal level,
the water system management at government level, county
level and municipal level as well as research institutions and
consultancy companies that work in the area of water.
In Norway we are lucky and can drink clean water from streams and lakes when we are outside. Photo: Bård Bredesen (naturarkivet.no)
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Initiatives:
• Arrange meeting places, in the form of seminars and/or
workshops on environmental protection with a wetlands
theme at a national and/or regional level
• Arrange meeting places, in the form of seminars and/or
workshops for land managers with a wetlands theme at a
national and/or regional level
and interest to preserve the remaining wetlands. Today
a number of programmes have been established within
agriculture to increase the commitment to the environment
in each landowner. By increasing agriculture management’s
knowledge of wetlands and their importance, as well as
agriculture’s possibilities for value creation by investing in
good management and restoration, the group believes that
the management of wetlands in the cultural landscape can be
improved:
Target groups: Persons with great influence on land use and
land planning in public administration, nationally, regionally
and locally.
Initiatives:
• Further develop the cooperation between the environmental protection and the agricultural authorities at
­various levels in order to strengthen the focus on wetlands
in agriculture’s environmental commitments
• Arrange seminars for the agricultural management sector
on the value of wetlands and the possibilities that lie in an
increased commitment to wetlands from landowners in
agriculture
• Obtain inspiration from the experiences of the ­Norwegian
Ornithological Society, section Hedmark – Wetlands
Group, and other initiatives that have given good results,
for implementation of the initiatives mentioned above and
other relevant initiatives.
Central actors: Central environmental protection authorities
such as implementers and public administration as
participants.
Cost estimate: 2 mill NOK over two years.
Implementation: 2012-2013.
Aim 8: Cooperate with relevant actors within
agricultural management with the aim of
increasing an understanding of the value of
sustainable use of wetlands
Target groups: Agricultural management at national level,
county level and municipal level and each landowner.
Reason: Modern agriculture has affected wetlands through,
amongst other things, drainage and cultivation, refilling
and eutrophication, which has had negative effects on the
condition of the nature. In recent years there has, however,
been a positive development, with restoration projects
Central actors: Environmental protection management at a
national level, county level and municipal level.
Frozen water can provide great experiences on ice-skates in the winter. Photograph: Kim Abel (naturarkivet.no)
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Cost estimate: Seminar for agricultural management over
two days: 400 000 NOK.
well under way, and there is a need for new initiatives for a
revised edition of the action plan (2015).
Implementation:
• Increased investment in cooperation: 2013
• Seminar: 2014
Initiatives:
• Map various initiatives for communicating the value of
wetlands internationally and identify initiatives that have
had a good effect and that can be transferred to Norway
• Propose initiatives that can be implemented in Norway
and be included in a revised edition of the CEPA action
plan, possibly with adaptations to Norwegian conditions
• As a part of the work, successful communication
­initiatives in biodiversity ought to be considered at local,
regional and national levels
Aim 9: Ensure that all new administration plans
for Norwegian Ramsar Sites (and other protected
wetlands) include the communication perspective
Reason: The Ramsar Convention would like all Ramsar
Sites to be included in management plans. In recent years
there has been increased commitment to management
plans in protected areas in Norway in order to ensure
preservation of the values of nature in the protected areas.
Concrete preservation aims are defined in the management
plans and guidelines that are given for use, information,
care, monitoring, any adaptations etc. The group deems
it important that the communication perspective is
strengthened in the management plans. This will contribute
to increased understanding of the value of wetlands and
thereby to improved, long-term preservation of the areas.
A considerable number of the Ramsar Sites on the mainland
currently have management plans, but it is still important
that the remaining areas are covered by plans so as to ensure
good management of Norway’s internationally important
wetland areas.
Target groups: Environment protection, wetland centres and
other actors in wetland communication.
Central actors: The national CEPA contacts will be relevant
for such an exercise.
Cost estimate: Work effort of the CEPA contacts.
Implementation: 2014.
Part 4 Authorisation of
wetland centres
4.1 Background
Initiative:
• Contribute to strengthening the communication
­perspective by preparing management plans
During recent years a number of initiatives have popped up
that use names like wetland centre, Ramsar centre, etc., and
several are being planned. The term wetland centre is not
currently a protected title, and this makes is difficult for the
public to know what they shall expect when they come into
contact with the initiatives. It is not very appropriate for
the Norwegian Environment Agency to provide information
on wetland centres when their content and role is not more
defined. A need has been expressed to regulate and quality
assure the centres’ activities to a greater degree. The centres
have different levels of ambition and different sizes, capacity,
infrastructure and organisation. It is desirable to keep the
diversity, but at the same time set criteria as to what defines
wetland centres, and which can be used to communicate a
more uniform message on what they amount to.
Target groups: Users of Ramsar Sites and the management
authorities for these areas (county governors).
Central actors: Government environmental protection
authorities for encouragement and possible assistance
to include communication in the management plans. The
relevant county governors are responsible for preparing
management plans.
Cost estimate: Costs for preparing management plans are
covered by other budget items.
Implementation: 2011 – 2014.
Aim 10: Map good examples of communication
connected to wetlands in other countries and
recommend initiatives based on these
By making the title protected, the centres will be able to use
this to a greater degree in their marketing. An authorisation
will also be seen in connection with the distribution of
resources for wetland related work in the future, cf. the
national park centres.
Reason: Initiatives within communication of the value of
wetlands have been carried out at national, sub national
and local level over the whole world. Initiatives that have
had good effect ought to be considered for their relevance
for implementation in Norway. The group recommends a
mapping of initiatives that have been carried out in other
countries, when the implementation of the initiatives that
are proposed in the CEPA action plan for 2011-2014 are
Earmarked resources were put aside for the first time in
2010 for the wetland centres in Norway. The Norwegian
Environment Agency distributed the resources upon
application, a total of approx. 7.3 mill NOK (of which 3 mill
NOK went directly to the Trondheim fjord Wetland Centre).
By August 2011, 4.5 mill NOK had been distributed for the
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provide information on wetlands and thereby on the Ramsar
Convention and the Ramsar Sites. The wetland centres also
ought to have a geographical spread and represent the scope
of wetland types over the whole of Norway. The Norwegian
Environment Agency, as the administrative authority, shall
have the overall responsibility for such centres and shall have
a guiding role in how the supplied resources shall be used.
same purposes for the year. The Norwegian Environment
Agency has, in total in recent years (2008-2011),
distributed approx. 18 mill NOK to wetland and seabird
centres in Norway.
Mapping the centres’ needs
On 12-13 May 2011, the Norwegian Environment Agency,
in cooperation with the County Governor in Rogaland,
arranged the third gathering for wetlands initiatives in
Stavanger. Two such gatherings had been previously held
in Fetsund/Nordre Øyeren autumn 2009 and in Trondheim
2008. At these gatherings initiative takers had the chance
to meet each other and report on what they have done and
plan to do in the future. As a part of the Stavanger seminar a
discussion was held, after which the centres were asked to fill
in a questionnaire in order to map needs and prioritise wishes
amongst the centres for future commitments. 12 of the
wetland initiatives were represented in Stavanger and 13 out
of 14 centres filled in the questionnaire.
4.2.1 Aim
The aim of the establishment of official wetland centres is
to create an understanding of the value of the Norwegian
wetland heritage and to communicate knowledge of the use
and preservation of wetland areas, including Ramsar Sites.
The CEPA group has established three sub aims that shall
function as guidelines for reaching this main aim:
• A wetland centre shall provide information on wetlands
and the Ramsar Convention, i.e. offer information on
­natural science
• A wetland centre shall offer nature experiences
• A wetlands centre shall be available for many
The measures that were particularly highly prioritised by the
centres were interactive maps with information from the
different wetland centres and/or the different Ramsar Sites.
There was also a lot of interest in a film about wetlands and
teaching material. Brochure material had a lower priority,
partly due to the experience that shows that brochures and
information campaigns usually have little impact.
4.2.2 Target groups
Based on the aim of creating an understanding for the
importance of wetlands and reaching many, it is important
that the target groups consist of a broad spectrum of the
general public. The wetland centres will have the main
responsibility for their own operations. A primary target
group will therefore be the local population, those who live
in immediate proximity. This will also be a natural group to
target as they will also be the simplest to reach.
Through the discussion and questionnaire it emerged that
the centres get great benefit as meeting places for formal
and informal communication and for exchanging information.
Particular emphasis was put on the gatherings’ function as
a meeting place to get ideas for new activities and to get
input on new developments. Development of closer network
cooperation between the centres was highly prioritised
amongst the participants, also in the form of cooperation
organised independently from the Norwegian Environment
Agency.
An important part of the main aim is to work with attitudes,
and it can then be of great importance to reach young
people. A wetland centre shall therefore also actively provide
offers to school pupils.
The main target groups shall therefore be the local population
and school pupils. But work can willingly be targeted at other
relevant groups, such as those interested in birds. This will be
up to each centre.
The CEPA group’s recommendations
In autumn 2110 the CEPA group submitted a review to the
Norwegian Environment Agency with a set of guidelines for
the establishment of authorised information centres. The aim
is that the centres, under their own management and with
the help of resources from the environment protection, can
function as an official information channel for the use and
preservation of wetlands. In the long term it can be relevant
to expand with more centres and more initiatives that can
benefit from these pioneer projects. In the following pages
the group proposes minimum requirements and guidelines
that ought to be in place for the first authorised wetland
centres in Norway.
4.3 Authorisation terms
In order to receive resources as an authorised wetland
centre, there are both guidelines that must be fulfilled and
general guidelines that ought to be followed. The minimum
requirements, which are described below in chapter 4.4,
shall be seen as absolute and these deal with both general
operations and requirements for the building. These
requirements shall be documented in an application for
authorisation. In addition it shall be possible to apply for
extra support to follow the general guidelines in a good and
creative way.
4.2 Aims
As at first authorised wetland centres in Norway will be in
a start up phase, the resources shall be concentrated on a
few centres (4-5), so that they can build a good basis for
continued operation Even though many centres will depend
Based on the definition of wetlands, there are many areas
in Norway that are not in the Ramsar Convention’s list. A
national information centre on wetlands, hereafter called
wetlands centre, ought therefore first and foremost to
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• The centre shall have a permanent exhibition with
­information on wetlands in general, but it shall also
­promote local areas and values
• Ramsar and information on Ramsar Sites shall be a part
of the exhibition, even if the centre is not located in
­immediate proximity to a Ramsar Site
• Nature experience must also be allowed outside ordinary
opening hours, such as a nature trail in the local area,
walk ideas in the wetlands, trip ideas in wetlands, or other
­offers that do not require manned personnel
• The centre shall follow the central graphical profile that
will be designed by the Norwegian Environment Agency.
on public resources, it is desirable that the centre also
works towards obtaining its own income. The authorisation
requirements can be changed over time.
4.3.1 Application and reporting
Applications shall be sent each year for basic support for
the operation of a wetland centre and in order to achieve
authorisation. In addition an application can be sent for
support for extra information initiatives. Examples of
such initiatives can be support for the development of
extra exhibitions, or possibly other creative initiatives that
promote the main aim. The chapter for general guidelines
lists examples of information initiatives that qualify for extra
resources in addition to the basic support. The application
shall include detailed documentation that describes what the
resources are for.
4.5 General guidelines for
support for information
initiatives
A requirement for receiving future support will be reporting
the result of previously received resources. Separate forms
shall be prepared for this reporting.
Running a good information centre with at least one
permanent employee is expensive. The basis support is only
meant to provide a minimum foundation to run the wetland
centre. It is desirable that the centre shall run itself to the
greatest possible degree and create its own income.
4.4 Authorisation
requirement
But we would also like ”to reward” the authorised centres
that show in a good way initiative and willingness to develop,
and which manage to fulfil the main aim and the general
guidelines. The guidelines are based on the three sub aims
listed in chapter 3.1. In addition to the basic support, it shall,
therefore, be possible to apply for further resources for
information initiatives. The resources are only meant for the
centres that qualify for authorisation, as described in
chapter 5.
In order to achieve status as an authorised wetland centre, all
the requirements in chapter 4.4.1 and 4.4.2 shall be fulfilled
and documented in the application.
4.4.1 Requirement for operation
• There shall be at least one permanent ­employee,
­preferably full time, who has competence in
­communicating about wetlands. Working with wetland
communication shall be a prioritised part of the work
description
• The centre shall have fixed opening times, but the opening
times can vary according to the season
• The local population shall be offered nature experiences
and activity days out in the wetlands
• The Centre shall actively reach out with offers to nurseries
and schools at different levels
• Red-letter days shall be marked, for example, World
­Wetlands Day
• The centre shall have its own website, possibly a website
with basic information on the operation and opening times
• Employees and managers at the centre shall participate in
courses and national network gatherings arranged by the
Norwegian Environment Agency.
The initiatives must be documented in the application with a
plan for how the resources are planned to be used. Below is a
more detailed description of which guidelines it is important
to emphasise in order to fulfil the main aim, with examples of
good initiatives. Initiatives or activities described here qualify
for extra support as long as the application is well founded.
4.5.1 A wetland centre shall offer nature
experiences
Wetlands are a type of nature that are very suitable for
providing a positive nature experience. There is a lot of
light, sound and smell in wetlands, they are easily accessible
and can tolerate heavy traffic if it is channelled correctly. A
wetland centre shall provide facilities to experience this. If
visitors get knowledge of the wetland area through activities
and good experiences, it will also create an understanding of
why it is important to take care of them.
4.4.2 Requirements for buildings/premises
• The wetland centre can be integrated in an already
­existing nature information centre
• It can stand as an independent nature information centre
with its own building, or with clearly separated premises if
the centre is a part of an established building, for example,
a museum, arts centre, business park etc.
• The building shall be available for many and it shall be
located close to a population centre or tourist road with
heavy traffic
A wetland centre shall provide a concrete offer of nature
experience through initiatives that give physical presence in
the wetlands. This offer shall be open and free of charge for
all those who wish to participate.
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4.5.3 A wetland centre shall be available to many
The experience on offer ought to, if possible, be away from
roads and noise zones. It can also be used to show contrasts
between developed areas and natural areas, something that
will promote the importance of an area being protected.
The offer shall not have negative consequences for the
biodiversity. If the offer leads to traffic and adaptations in the
wetlands, a consequence analysis for the biodiversity shall be
carried out before the offer is opened. Adaptations shall be
gentle and not detract from the nature experience and must,
of course, be made in cooperation with both the landowner
and the management authority.
One of the most important prerequisites for spreading
knowledge is to reach as many people as possible. A wetland
centre ought, therefore, to be preferably located by a
population centre. Another alternative is if the centre is
located by a main road so that it is visible for passersby and
can function as a stopping place for people passing by.
It will also be a great advantage if the centre can cooperate
with other institutions with concurrent interests, such as
museums or other established tourist attractions. Other
nature information centres are also obviously cooperation
partners.
Examples of initiatives for nature experiences:
• construction of bird towers or observation platforms for
showing the wetlands with the accompanying plant and
animal life, with an emphasis on showing species that are
characteristic of the wetland area
• marking and adapting paths for walks or cycle paths in the
wetland area
• initiatives that will stimulate experiences that can challenge the senses, create curiosity, preferably through
interaction between art and culture
• initiatives that show contrasts between natural areas and
developed areas
• any initiatives and activities that occur outside ought to
be universally designed, as far as possible
Examples of initiatives to improve availability:
• designing a master plan that describes the centre’s visions,
purpose, design and plan for development and financing
• preparing own information brochures with an overview of
activities and offers that can be handed out to schools and
made available at travel companies and gathering places
for the local population
• signs
• updating and further developing the centre’s own website
• using social media such as Facebook or Twitter
4.5.2 A wetland centre shall communicate
knowledge
The aim of the communication work shall be to create
knowledge of and pride over the values of nature in the
wetlands. In order to achieve this, and to contribute to
creating attitudes on preserving wetlands, it is important to
communicate knowledge of the biology in them.
Examples of initiatives for good knowledge
communication:
• designing new and exciting exhibitions
• designing or procuring brochure material for spreading
knowledge
• initiatives that can give extra offers to schools and
­nurseries, such as offers to the ”Natural School Bag”
• R&D cooperation that can establish the centre as a
­research arena, and possibly participate in a network with
various actors
• contribute to increased competence in wetland
­technology
• concrete activities, for example ring marking birds
• possibilities for value creation based on ecotourism (for example bird tourism)
• good personnel resources – employees qualified as
nature guides or associated professionals (professional
­committee)
• initiatives that create a more livable centre with activities
and local initiators
• contribute actively in the management of the area
• participate actively in monitoring and care
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CEPA-action plan for wetlands 2011-2014 | M76-2013
Part 5 Implementation
and revision
Part 6 Relevant
CEPA-literature
Implementation of the CEPA action plan will follow the
defined schedules under the different aims. Implementation
depends on the necessary resources being set aside for this.
It is recommended that the action plan be revised after four
years, in 2014 and a new, revised edition be ready for 2015.
The Ramsar Convention and CEPA
The Ramsar Convention’s homepage: www.ramsar.org
Roles and responsibilities of the CEPA National Focal Points:
www.ramsar.org/pdf/outreach_cepa_nfp_roles.pdf
Presentation of the Ramsar Convention’s CEPA- programme:
www.ramsar.org/cda/en/ramsar-activities-cepa/main/
ramsar/1-63-69_4000_0
Other CEPA-plans: http://www.ramsar.org/cda/en/ramsaractivities-cepa-convention-146-s-20252/main/ramsar/163-69%5E20252_4000_0__
Brochure of Ramsar areas in Japan: http://www.env.go.jp/en/
nature/npr/ramsar_wetland/pamph/
Other relevant initiatives
The Sustainable Backpack program: www.natursekken.no/
c1187995/om/index.html?&tid=1188266
The environment journalists: www.miljojournalistene.no/-/
sandbox/show?ref=mst
Nature as a value creator: www.miljødirektoratet.no/no/
Tema/Verneomrader/Naturarven-som-verdiskaper/
Nature guidance in the Norwegian Nature Inspectorate:
www.naturoppsyn.no/content/563/Naturveiledning
The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB):
www.teebweb.org
The value creation programme: http://verdiskaping.info/
Other sites
Norwegian Centre for Science Education:
www.naturfagsenteret.no
Nature index (film):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_StrvtbKSk
Norwegian Ornithological Society section Hedmark –
Wetlands Group: www.dammer.no
Environment programme in agriculture: www.slf.dep.no/
no/ miljo-og-okologisk/jordbruk-og-miljo/nasjonaltmiljoprogram
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Miljødirektoratet
Telefon: 03400/73 58 05 00 | Faks: 73 58 05 01
E-post: [email protected]
Nett: www.miljødirektoratet.no
Post: Postboks 5672 Sluppen, 7485 Trondheim
Besøksadresse Trondheim: Brattørkaia 15, 7010 Trondheim
Besøksadresse Oslo: Strømsveien 96, 0602 Oslo
Miljødirektoratet ble opprettet 1. juli 2013 og er en
sammenslåing av Direktoratet for naturforvaltning og
Klima- og forurensningsdirektoratet. Vi er et direktorat under
Miljøverndepartementet med 700 ansatte i Trondheim og
Oslo. Statens naturoppsyn er en del av direktoratet med over
60 lokalkontor.
Miljødirektoratet har sentrale oppgaver og ansvar i arbeidet
med å redusere klimagassutslipp, forvalte norsk natur og
hindre forurensning.
Våre viktigste funksjoner er å overvåke miljøtilstanden
og formidle informasjon, være myndighetsutøver, styre
og veilede regionalt og kommunalt nivå, samarbeide med
berørte sektormyndigheter, være faglig rådgiver og bidra i
internasjonalt miljøarbeid.